11 indicted in cocaine trafficking worth $140 million

By Cindy George |
April 10, 2013
| Updated: April 11, 2013 12:44am

Three purported drug kingpins are among 11 people indicted in connection with a South Texas cocaine trafficking operation that netted an estimated $140 million in nearly two decades, federal authorities announced Wednesday.

Three men from the Houston area each face one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance in an alleged trafficking dating back to 1995, court records filed in the Southern District of Texas show.

An indictment filed last year in Houston federal court and unsealed Wednesday charges Jerry Trevino, 46, of Spring along with Houston residents 60-year-old Alvin Nelson and Thomas Drew Widak, 44. The trio is accused of distributing or possessing at least 5 kilograms of cocaine from 1995 through 2011 worth $40 million.

A two-count indictment handed down in February against the other eight was unsealed in Beaumont federal court Wednesday.

Those defendants are accused of distributing or possessing at least 5 kilograms of cocaine worth $100 million in the Eastern District of Texas from 2003 through February.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney in the Beaumont-based Eastern District of Texas, Barerra, Trevino and Correa are believed to be leaders of a major drug-trafficking organization.

Barerra and Trevino had been arrested while Correa remained at large, the release issued Wednesday said. Authorities also were searching for Amaya-Saenz and Martinez.

Prosecutors believe the group of eight received or attempted to receive delivery of "bulk money shipments" from cocaine purchasers for the purpose of delivery to the three "co-conspirators in the Southern District of Texas via transportation of the tainted proceeds through the Eastern District of Texas."

The government seeks forfeiture of a 2007 black Chevrolet Suburban as well as two Tomball homes, which, according to Harris County property records, are owned by Barrera or a woman with the same last name.

If convicted on the conspiracy count, each of the 11 faces 10 years to life in prison and a fine in the millions of dollars. The money laundering charge is punishable by up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine up to $500,000.